A $480-million dollar arena slated to house the National Hockey League’s Edmonton Oilers is emblematic of recent development and economic recovery in Alberta's capital city. Institutional projects top 2013's robust building permit activity and represent the highest increase in year-to-date construction value, up 684% compared to 2012, say city officials.
“The arena is creating spinoff developments,” says Alan Kuysters, Edmonton district manager for PCL Construction Cos., the local firm handling project pre-construction work. “Several colleges in Edmonton are also building…the poly-technical school has a $240-million facility in the works. So that is contributing to the strong institutional permits.”